There really isnt very many parts and connections you need to cover so this is really no big deal. Takes 15 minutes.
Here are my recommendations:
Cover your HID ballasts, HID connections, and HID bulbs. Believe me, I know this first hand as after I washed my 2000 540i five years ago (I didnt cover anything), started the car, turn the headlights on, the headlights no longer worked. Ballast quit working on one side, HID bulb burned out on the other side.
Moisture also accumulated inside the headlight assemblies. I dont recommend pressure washer or high water pressure.
Cover with plastic or saran wrap the entire passenger side A/C filter which houses the ECU and all sorts of connections inside. You accidentally get water in there and you will be asking for trouble.
Any other exposed connectors, wrap them in saran wrap. That's it. Again, this is playing it safe trying to avoid issues later.
Never wash your engine hot.
I dont recommend aluminum tape. Aluminum tape is very conductive. If you get water trapped underneath the aluminum tape, and you forget to remove it once you're done washing your engine - I dont know what will happen.
I will post photo when I come back from vacation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ks7827
Dan - For us newbies, how about posting a picture of which parts of the engine bay we need to cover before we hose it down? Thanks.
I vote for this thread to be in the FAQ.
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Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
Just remember..Just because someone makes it through the first two rounds of russian roulette, its still no proof that the gun isn't loaded!!
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Again, I do not recommend petroleum based engine cleaner such as Gunk. Your engine will smell for months.
Use Scrubbing Bubbles. So easy to use, spray on, hose off. Odor is much much reduced, the smell burns off in about a day.
I used to use Gunk and my engine would smell for weeks.
No argument that Gunk smells. My question was whether the cleaning process reduces the "normal" smell that comes from a hot engine that hasn't been cleaned, which gives the garage a nice oily fragrance.
The cleaning process cleans your entire engine bay, free from oil and grease deposits, and washes away caked on dust.
When you get done, if you use scrubbing bubbles as cleaning agent, the engine compartment will smell good.
Thanks for the well wishes. My wife and I are going on a two week Mediterannean Cruise so that should be fun and relaxing, except I will miss my beast.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkwind
No argument that Gunk smells. My question was whether the cleaning process reduces the "normal" smell that comes from a hot engine that hasn't been cleaned, which gives the garage a nice oily fragrance.
Have a great vacation!
__________________
Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
So it means you are really careful.
OrYou've never removed the dipstick!
Couldn't resist...
A
I thought that thing with the red circle and sticker was important! So that's used to check the oil...
This board is great! Thanks again
:p :p :p
hahaha You know that sticker is made of some bendable plastic or similar, and I have left it on like those guys do when they leave a price tag on when they buy a new baseball hat...
I wonder if there is a part number for it?
It basically reads:
Idle for 15 seconds
Wait one minute
Check oil
Then it says the same thing on the other side in german
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